ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – With Republican State Senator Ed McBroom’s second term coming to an end in 2026, a Delta County commissioner is throwing her hat in the ring to take the seat he’ll leave behind.
Kelli van Ginhoven, a Democrat, has officially launched her campaign for the Michigan State Senate 38th District seat in 2026.
“People want their government to work for them,” she told WZMQ 19. “This isn’t about what I want to do; it’s about what they need from me.”
Van Ginhoven earned her spot on the Delta County Board of Commissioners in a recall election in May of 2024. However, the start of her public service dates back to 2019.
“I have worked with different city entities and organizations, including the Escanaba DDA, the Planning Commission, Community Foundation for Delta County,” said van Ginhoven. “Through the County Board, I have been able to sit on eight different boards, which I enjoy very much.”
As a result of conversations with her constituents, van Ginhoven believes Delta County and Upper Peninsula residents need a strong voice in Lansing.
“I’ve been told over and over that the U.P. is getting steamrolled by the State government,” she said. “I want people to know that I hear them, that I want to work with all the senators within the state to bring the U.P. what they need.”
She says her primary goal is to move the Upper Peninsula forward. One way she believes that can be accomplished is through higher pay.
“I am a very big proponent of increasing wages for our County and our local employees to get people to move here,” van Ginhoven said. “We rely heavily on tourism, but I want to retain people. Of course, with that comes a housing issue that we need to solve. That can come through help from the State government, through grants, through proposals with the state budget, things of that nature.”
In addition to increased wages, van Ginhoven says she stands strongly in favor of unions.
“I believe in unions, and I have an unweilding support for our local unions in the U.P.,” she said. “Our trades… I just attended the UPCC [Upper Peninsula Construction Council] graduation yesterday, and I want to be an exporter in the U.P. of strong tradesmen. So the exportation of tradepeople, strong unions, building back a better middle class for the U.P.”
As public issues and voter concerns develop over the next year, van Ginhoven says her platform will as well. In the meantime, she says her role on the Board of Commissioners and the interests of Delta County residents remain her top priorities.
“I’m still going to do the strong work that I’ve done for the last 15 months for the next 15 months going forward in this election cycle,” said van Ginhoven. “I want people to know that I’m willing to sit down and listen. This campaign is not about me; it’s about them and us working together.”
If van Ginhoven wins the District 38 Senate seat, she will have to resign from the County Board. If she does not win the Senate seat, she says she will continue to serve as a Delta County commissioner.
